We want to update you on the state of equine veterinary practice. Over the last 2 years, SARS-CoV-2 has changed the practice of medicine (both human and veterinary). Additionally, we have seen the number of equine veterinarians graduating each year decrease (only 1% of graduating vet students take equine jobs after graduation), while we also continue to see equine veterinarians leaving active practice. Within the past year, 2 long time practices in our area have decided to cease all equine medical care. Our goal continues to be to deliver the best medicine possible to our patients and clients every day, 24 hours a day.

With these realities in mind, we have already begun heavy recruiting of specialists, general practitioners, and support team members (front desk, technical assistants, laboratory technicians, and certified technicians). We encourage the use of our hospital and clinic facilities, our trained hospital staff and the unlimited procedures available to your horse. We want to encourage all clients to prepare to trailer your horse(s) Into our hospital and clinic for emergencies and routine elective procedures. We can provide a list of potential shippers should you need one. These are unprecedented times, and we must adapt to continue to provide your horse with the best care and medicine. We are not going anywhere and will continue to offer cutting edge care 24/7/365.

HERE ARE THE FACTS:
• In 2000, 5% of all veterinary school graduates took an equine job upon graduating. In 2018, the AVMA reported that there were 3,142 U.S. veterinary school graduates and that 42 (1.8%) took an equine job at graduation. This number has decreased to 39, (1%) this past year.

Many Equine practices are closing. In our area, Chase Veterinary and Halifax Veterinary Services have both ceased offering any equine medical care. In addition, many smaller or solo practitioners are no longer accepting new clients and/or will not see non clients for emergencies.

Excerpt from AVMA ……” All the while, practices quickly adapted with new COVID-19 safety protocols to ensure the continued provision of quality patient care. But these same changes also limited team efficiency and productivity.

• COVID-19 has created a challenging 18-plus months for our practices, and many are still wrestling with the tangible changes it triggered… Many practices also have struggled with losses of staff members. Whether a team member became sick, had to quarantine, or needed to stay home for childcare or other personal reasons… Employee turnover and attrition remain high in veterinary medicine, especially when compared with other health care professions. The average turnover for veterinarians is twice as high as it is for physicians in medical practice.9,10 And veterinary technicians have one of the highest turnovers of all health care positions compared.”

• The strain on veterinary care is a real issue. Click here to read an article in the Patriot Ledger about how it is affecting all veterinarians.

• If we love our pets so much, why do we treat their veterinarians so poorly? They give their all to our pets, despite mental health struggles in the field. But vets get shockingly little in return. Click here to read the full article in the Boston Globe.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

With less equine vets available and additional patients for South Shore Equine to visit and care for, we need your understanding in efficiently scheduling our visits. We are still available for farm visits for wellness appointments (vaccines, health check-ups, and Coggins testing). as well as for dentistry and power floats, and other schedulable issues. We also need your help and your further assistance with Shipping In your horse(s) to the South Shore Equine hospital and clinic more advanced procedures, urgent issues, and most emergencies. The simple fact is we cannot be in two places at once, but our team is always present and available at our hospital in Plympton.